Interchangeable fence and guard rail section



Aug. 24, 1954 w. L. ENGHAUSER 2,687,283 INTERCHANGEABLE FENCE AND GUARD RAIL SECTION Filed Sept. 2, 195:5 a. 18 f @0 r n-rroeue'ys.

Patented Aug. 24, 1954 INTERCHANGEABLE FENCE AND GUARD RAIL SECTION Winford L. Enghauser, Cincinnati, Ohio Application September 2, 1953, Serial No. 378,115

This invention relates to a prefabricated rail structure for interchangeable use as fence section or guard railing, the section being arranged to articulate to a horizontal or to an inclined plane to conform to the grade of the surface upon which it is erected.

A structure of this general character is disclosed in the copending application of Winford L. Enghauser, Serial No. 326,965, filed on December 19, 1952, now abandoned. The structure of the prior application consists essentially of a pair of longitudinal stringers or rails, having pivotally connected along one side, a series of spaced vertical palings, with the upper and lower ends of the palings projecting outwardlybeyond the stringers. The opposite ends of the stringers are pivotally connected to a pair of vertical posts which may be mounted either upon a level or inclined supporting surface.

This structure, by virtue of the pivotal connections of the palings and posts, is capable of being articulated in parallelogram fashion either to a level or inclined plane, while the posts and palings are maintained in vertical position. Accordingly, the sections may be utilized interchangeably as inclined stair guards or as horizontal fence or porch rail sections without any alteration in construction. The structure is self-adjusting and generally practical except that the palings project alongside and above the top stringer as in the usual picket fence because of the mounting arrangement of the palings. Therefore in order to adapt the structure for use as a stair guard it is provided with an additional hand rail or bannister which is in the form of athird stringer mounted above the tops of the palings and pivotally connected to the posts. This third rail obviously serves no useful purpose when the sections are utilized for fencing.

A primary object of the present invention has been to provide an improved railing section in which the upper stringer itself is utilized as a hand rail, thereby eliminating the third rail but retaining the desirable self-compensating features of the articulated construction for selective erection.

Briefly, each railing section of the present invention comprises a pair of longitudinal rails or stringers spaced one above the other and joined by vertical palings extending between and within the confines of the stringers (as distinguished from alongside) in a plane common to the axes of the stringers. The opposite ends of the palings are pivotally connected at points along the surfaces of the stringers which face inwardly toward one another, whereby the two stringers overlie the opposite ends of the palings. Accordingly, the sides and top of the stringers are entirely unobstructed so as to allow the upper stringer to '5 Claims. (01. 256-21) serve both as a mounting for the palings and as a sturdy hand rail. The pivotal connections of the palings are provided by a series of clips which are welded directly to the surfaces of the stringers, with the clips at top and bottom facing toward one another and connected to the palings by pivot members passing through the clips and ends of the palings.

The opposite ends of the stringers are attached to the posts by means of connector sleeves which are telescopically engaged upon the ends of the stringers in a manner generally similar to the connectors of the copending application. Each sleeve includes an angle bracket projecting outwardly beyond the end of the sleeve and connected by pivot screw to the post to form the articulated connection. The connectors at opposite ends of the stringers are identical in construction'and the angle brackets of adjoining sections are arranged to engage the opposite sides of the mounting post when several sections are installed as a fence in end-to-end relationship.

In order to allow the rail section to be adjusted selectively to'a level or inclined plane, the pivot screws of the connectors must be located upon a plane which is common, or nearly so, to the pivot points of the palings. If the pivots of the connectors and palings were out of line, then the assembled section would bind when swivelled'to- Ward an inclined plane. For this purpose the angle bracket of the connector is displaced laterally from the axes ofthe connectorand is provided with a mounting hole disposed in alignment with pivot members of the palings at top and bottom.

The rail sections are fabricated preferably from commercial iron pipe stock and are neat and trim in appearance. When erected as a porch railing and stairway guard the inclined and horizontal sections harmonize with one another and provide a finished architectural appearance. When used for fencing, the sections are erected in end-toend relationship and accommodate themselves to hilly or level ground from section-to-section by virtue of their articulatedconstruction.

A further object of the invention has been to provide a simplified connector which is 'detach- I able with respect to the ends of the stringers to allow the stringers to be trimmed to length, partlcularly when utilized as stair guards; also to provide a minor length adjustment to compenlocked in longitudinally adjusted position by set By operation of its articulated joints and adjustable connectors, the rail sections may be installed by the average workman or householder without special skill or equipment. By virtue of the improved mounting of the palings, the top stringer forms a hand rail corresponding to the inclination of the stairway and the section in its inclined position has essentially the appearance.

and utility of a conventional stair guard but retions erected upon a porch slab and steps as a stairguard and as a side railing.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper portion of one of the mounting posts, illustrating in greater detail the adjustable connectors.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 3, further detailing the connector and its attachment to the post.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View taken from Figure l, detailing one of the mounting clips which connect the palings to the stringers.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 5, further detailing the mounting clip.

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 6, showing. the connection of the sections .to a corner post.

Referring to the drawings, the present rail section is shown in Figure 1 in its utility as an outdoor fence and in Figure 2 as a guard rail for a stairway and porch slab to illustrate its articulating action and length adjustment. The individual sections are furnishedto the user preferably in assembled condition ready for erection upon the posts which, according to the usual practice, are installed in advance- As explained later in detail, pivotal connectors are used to connect the ends of the sections .to the posts and these connectors allow the sections to be trimmed to length and also provide a minor length adjustment, suchthat the posts .need not be precisely located center to center.

When utilized for fencing,- the posts usually are located at centers corresponding to the full length of the sections, and the connectors-are adjusted to accommodate minor variations in post locations.;,. On the other hand, when installed upon porches, steps,; terraces and the like to provide guard rails of shorter length, the sections are fitted simply by removing the connectors at one end cutting the sections-to the required length, then replacing the connectors and attaching them to the posts. In either type of installation the individual sections, by virtue of their articulated connections, are flexible and will accommodate themselves to the grade or contour whether level or inclined. The several inclinations and length variations are indicated in broken lines in Figure 2 which discloses the rail section applied to several types of stairways as a guard rail.

Described in detail with reference to Figure l, each rail section consists of a top and bottom stringer indicated at ill and II and a series of spaced vertical palings or pickets -12 having their upper and lower ends pivotally connected to the stringers as at I3. The stringers and palings are preferably fabricated from commercial iron pipe stock, suitably finished to prevent corrosion. It will be noted in Figure .6, that ,the, pa1 -ings are located in a horizontal plane common to the axes of the stringers such that the upper and lower ends of the palings are disposed between and within the confines of the upper and lower stringers. By virtue of this arrangement, the ends of the palings do not project above or alongside the stringers; therefore the upper stringer formsganunobstructed hand rail when the section is installed as a stair guard or porch rail.

In'ordento mount the palings in this manner, the upper and lower ends of the palings are pivotally connected to the respective stringers by means of clevis members or mountings clips I l which. are welded as at 15 to the respective stringers. It will beunderstood that the-clips It are located at uniform spacing and that the clips of the top and bottom stringers face toward one another in vertical registry.

Described-in detail with reference to Figures 5 and 6, each clip i l consists of a sheet metal stamping generally U-shaped in cross section providing a pair of spaced vertical ears Iii-46 joined by a transverse section I1 which is welded to .the,stringer -as,.indicated previously. The paling i2 is confined loosely between the spaced earsand is anchored pivotally to them by the headed rivet 53 (Figure 6) passing through matching holes in the ears and tubular paling. In its preferred form as shown in Figure 5, the ears [6 are generally semi-circular in configuration in orderto confine the palings and'prevent any interference between the clips and palings when the railing section is adjusted to its inclined positions.

It will be understood from theforegoing that the assembled palings and stringers are free to articulate in parallelogram fashion and by their geometric relationship, the palings are maintained'in vertical position corresponding to themounting post whether the section is installed in the horizontal plane as shown in Figure l or in anyof the inclined planes shown in Figure 2.

The opposite'ends of the stringers are pivotally connected to the posts 18 by means of the adjustable-connectors, which are indicated generally at 20: The posts are furnished with a pair of holes 19 to receive the pivot screws of the top and bottom stringers. as explained later. The posts are also fabricatedfrom pipe stock and preferably have their upper ends closed to pro.

vide aneat appearance and for weather protection. It is to be noted at this point, that the posts are located at sufficient spacing to provide a space intervening between the ends of the stringers as shown in Figure 4. This space allows the connectors to be adjusted longitudinally upon the ends of the stringers to compensate for'variationsin thespacingbetween adjacent posts. A'lso,; as noted earlier, the connectors are arranged to be detached from the stringers to allow the rail section to be trimmed to a shorter lengthwhen necessary.

The connectors 28 for the upper and lower stringers are identical in construction and are illustrated :in detail in Figures .3 and 4. Each connector. consists of a sleeve or .thimble 2| adapted to telescopically receive theend of the' stringer and having aclosed end 22 for weather protection. The sleeve is pivotally connected to the posts by'an'angle bracket-23 which includes a sleeve. The limb 24 is configurated to nest partially around the periphery of the sleeve and the sleeve is permanently welded to this portion of the limb as indicated at 25. Bracket 23 further includes an outwardly projected shank 2B which is offset laterally from the axis of the sleeve. The outer end of the shank includes a hole 29 providing a pivotal connection to one side of the post by means of the pivot screw 21, passing through the mounting holes I9 and 2 9 of the post and shank. As indicated in Figure 4, the projecting shank, by virtue of its lateral position, locates the stringer on an axis corresponding to the center of the post. It will also be noted in this view, that the sleeve is locked permanently in its longitudinal position of adjustment by a socket type set screw 28 passing through the sleeve into pressure engagement with the stringer.

In order to allow the rail section to be adjusted selectively to a level or inclined plane with respect to its posts, the pivot screw 21 is located upon a plane which is common, or nearly so, to the centers of the rivets l3 of the palings. This relationship is indicated by the broken line 30 in Figure 3, the alignment being the same at the lower end of the post.

As noted earlier, the posts are usually installed I before the railing sections are attached and thereafter the connectors are adjusted and attached to the posts by the pivot screws 21. If the section is to be installed upon a stairway or the like, one end of the section is usually connected to one post, then the section is adjusted angularly to bring the connectors at the opposite end into alignment with the mounting holes of the second post for attachment.

If the connector pivots were not located in planes common to the rivets of the palings, then the assembled section would bind when shifted to an inclined position relative to the post which is located at a different elevation. In other words, if the pivots of the connectors and palings were out of line, then the arc of motion at the top and bottom pivot points of the palings would not correspond with one another. The non-uniform arcs would therefore tend to develop a force reacting between the palings and post effective to lock the section against articulation. The angle bracket 23 thus provides the proper pivot locations to allow the section to be adjusted freely to any desired angle of inclination at installation without requiring any refabrication Of the parts, whether the section be utilized for fencing or as a stair guard rail.

A noted earlier, a connector of identical form is used at top and bottom and at opposite ends of the stringers. The adjoining ends of the stringers which terminate on opposite sides of a given post are made to accommodate the post by positioning the shank 26 of the connectors on opposite sides of the post. Thus a single pivot screw 21 is utilized to attach the two mating connectors to the post. In order to so locate the offset shanks, the connector at one end of the stringer is rotated a half turn with respect to the connector at the opposite end thus bringing its mounting hole into registry with the mounting hole of the post on the opposite side.

In the preferred arrangement as illustrated in Figure 1, the connectors at a given end of the section are located on the same side of the post. As indicated in Figure 7, the connection to a corner post is similar to the straight section except that the mounting holes for the pivot screws are drilled at right angles to provide the corner con-- nection without any change'in' the relationshi of the connectors. Since the two pivot screws intersect at the corner, at least one of the holes may be tapped as at 36 and a short screw 3'! threaded in as indicated.

In order to provide convenient installation, the posts preferably include at their lower ends mounting plates 3| which are permanently attached by welding as at Ma. These plates are arranged to be attached to concrete footings 32 by anchor bolts 33 embedded in the footing. The posts are thus rigidly mounted in upright position by applying nuts to the anchoring bolts in the usual way.' When installed upon the concrete slab 34 or upon concrete steps 35 as a guard rail, the anchor bolts 33 are embedded directly in the slab and steps either when the concrete is poured or by drilling holes in existing structures. As indicated in the broken lines, the inclined guard rail section is simply cut to required length and its angle of inclination will correspond automatically to the pitch of the steps upon installation.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the railing sections adjust themselves to practically any combination of slopes and horizontal planes which are encountered in the field. This, in

combination with the adjustable connectors, makes it possible for the average workman or householder, without special skill or equipment, to install the posts and trim and erect the sections. In its utility as'a stair guard, the direct connection of the palings to the top stringer converts the stringer into a sturdy hand rail providing a convenient gripping surface.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A fence or railing section arranged to be erected selectively in a horizontal or inclined plane comprising, a pair of spaced vertical posts, a pair of stringers disposed generally in parallelism and spaced one above the other, said stringers extending longitudinally between said posts, respective connectors attached to the opposite ends of the stringers, each of said connectors having an end portion projecting outwardly beyond the end of the stringer and disposed alongside one of said posts, respective post pivots at-' connections between the ends of the stringers and posts, a series of paling mounting elements spaced from one another longitudinally and extending toward one another from the inwardly facing surfaces of the spaced stringers,- a plurality of, spaced vertical palings extending in parallelism with one another between said stringers in a plane generally common to the vertical axes of the stringers, the opposite ends of the palings terminating at the said paling mounting elements, respective paling pivots extending through the ends of said palings and said paling mounting elements providing respective articulated connections between the ends of the palings and stringers, the paling pivots being located in longitudinal planes common to the post pivots, said stringers being articulated to a plane determined by the relative elevations of said posts 7 while said paling members are maintained in posts; 190st. pivgot elementsrat .thBODDQSltE'BHdS of c the stringers; engaging .the posts andistringerszr andnpivotally. connecting the, stringers: to :the; posts;;.a plurality of spaced ,vertioal'apalings: 8X2- tending in parallelism with one another: and ,.-.5 havingrtheirr opposite ends terminating between thesspaced. stringers, said palings :beingzlocateda. in a;ver.tical;plane generallycommonto theaxis' of thestringers; respectiverpaling: mountingele. mentslior; said. zpalingsxsaid. mounting: elementsrlO secured-mo the stringersdn vertical registry; with- E thezupperaand lowerrzends. of the palingsyancb pivot .ppaling ;..elements zextendingi. through-. the opposite:ends of thepalingsand through the :pal-;.J ingimounting e1ements;-the 'palingpivot elements; 115 being ;located upon longitudinal; planes. common to zthe :postapivot .elements,.said stringers. beingiv articulated .to a.plane.:det ermined by the'relativew elevations of the postswhilesaidipaling members maintain their. vertical parallel relationship .rela .20 tive. to one: anothenwvith the .upper. stringen pro.- viding ran; unobstructed hand" grip surface.

3. A fence or railing section arranged to .be..= erectedzselectively in La horizontalor inclined planezcomprising, a painof spaced vertical posts a painof stringers ldisposed generally in parallel I ism andispaced one above the other, said stringers extending;longitudinally between said posts,-re--- spective: connectorsattached to the opposite endsof :the stringers, :each of said connectors having '30 an rend:- portion projecting outwardly beyond. the endsof the stringer and disposed alongside one of .said.=.posts, :respective. post pivot elements attachedsto the postsand engaging the endv portions of the connectors and;providingarticulated connectionslbetween .the ends of the stringers and postsea series of longitudinally'spaced clip members attached to saidstringers upon the inwardly l facingzsurfaces thereof,.said clip members being disposedin verticalalignment one above the 40 otheron said stringers and having earsspacedtransversely. to the longitudinal axes-of the string ers andex'tending inwardly toward one anotheiga plurality of spaced-vertical paling members ex tendingin parallelism with one another between *6 said-stringers in .a plane generally common to the'central .axesof thestringers, the oppositeends of the paling-members extending between the spaced ears of the clip members-and respec-- tive. paling pivot elements extendingtransversely throughthe endsiof said gpaling membersandthe spaceduears of the clip members providing: respective articulated connections between the ends\;of the paling members and clipmembers, the paling pivot elements being located in planes generally commonto the post pivot elements, whercby;the stringers assume. a horizontalor inelinedplane as determined by the relative elevations :of .said. posts while said palingmembers are. maintained in parallel vertical relationship.--

4. A fence or railingsection arranged to be erected: selectively in a horizontal or inclinedplane comprising, a pair of spaced vertical mounting posts, a pairof stringers disposed generallyin parallelism one above the other and extending longitudinally between said. posts \with their axes. in aplane generallycommonto theaxes of Y the posts, respective connector sleeves attached to the opposite ends of thestringers, each of said connector sleeves telescopically} engaged upon an end of the stringer. and adjustable l0ngitudinally "relative to the stringer, a respective shank member attached to theconnector sleeves, the shank members being displaced laterally. from .r the axes of the stringers, said. shank. members projecting outwardly, :beyond ,the ends ':of 'itheris. stringer randi residing alongside :5 the mounting 1. posts, respective post, pivot elements attached to :therpostseandcpassing through-theends \of said-Shanks thereby; providing-respective articu-;.; lated connections between the ends of the. string-n. ers-:;and-- posts; a series 10f longitudinally; spaced:.. clip... members ':attached: to :said stringers uponx': the; inwardly; =fac'ingesurfaces thereof; 'and:ipro-: jectingctoward one;:another,-: said 'clip members: beingzdisposedin vertically aligned pairs disposed onetabovethe other on=saidstringers,:a plurality of spaced verticalpalingsextending in parallelism.- with-1011c.:anotheribetween; saidstringersgin a verticaliplanetcommon ftO the axes of the string-i ers; theiopposite ends of :said palings .being:projectedlto saidclip members,:and respective pal r ingxpivot elements=extending through said clipiw members and palingsiprovidingrespectivearticu lated=connections:therebetween, the spaling pivot elements :being. located in planes commonto the post? pivot elements; said: gstringers :assuming a horizontal: or inclined plane :as determined by the. relative elevations .of .saidrmounting. posts while saidpaling members are maintained in vertical" position relative-to :the "stringers.

5. A fence or railing section: arrangedto be-- erected.:.selectively in a horizontal 'orinclined plane comprising; a pair 'of spaced verticalmountingnposts', a pairof stringers extending between said. posts and: disposed. generally in parallelism onevabove the other-withthein axes in a plane generallyicommon to the-axes of the posts, respective; connector sleeves attachedto the opposite ends-of the stringers, an angle bracket" at 5 tachedto each of said'connector'sleeves, the angle bracket comprising a transverse limb-attachedto the' connector sleeve and-a shank member at the outer: end. of the limb, said shank members projecting outwardly from the sleeveson-an axis parallel-to the axisof the sleeves and displaced laterally theref-rom;whereby the shank membersreside alongside-the mounting-posts, each' of said shank members having a mounting hole in the outer end portion thereof,- respective post pivot elements attached-to the posts and passing throug-hsaidmounting holes-and providing -re---- spective articulated connections between the ends of the-shank members and-posts, a series of longitudinally spaced clip members attached-t0 i said stringers upon'the inwardly facing surfaces thereof and'ha'ving transverselyspaced ears, said ears-being -disposed in vertically 'aligned pairs on-said-stringers;--a plurality of spaced'vertical' palings extending in parallelism-- with one-another between said stringers, theopposite ends of said palings being projected between the spaced ears of the clip members-and respective paling pivotelements extending transversely through said spaced ears andpalings providing respectivearticuiatedconnections therebetween, the paling-pivot elements being located in planes com: monto the post'pivot elements;jsaid stringers. assuming-"a horizontal or inclined plane-as..de-. termined by the relative elevations of said mountingposts while saidpaling members are main-- tained in vertical position .relative to the stringers. 1

References-Gited in the file of this patent",

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